PM Modi says India securing critical minerals, deepening global supply partnerships

India's strategic push to secure critical minerals through the National Critical Mineral Mission represents a watershed moment in the country's quest for resource sovereignty and technological self-reliance. Announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this initiative addresses a fundamental vulnerability in India's economic architecture - the heavy dependence on imports for minerals that are the building blocks of modern technology, clean energy systems, and defence capabilities. The mission's launch reflects a growing global recognition that critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and graphite are the new oil of the 21st century economy. The background to this initiative is rooted in India's ambitious climate commitments and industrial transformation. At COP26 in Glasgow (2021), India pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, with an interim target of 500 GW non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030. The Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for advanced chemistry cells and auto components have created massive domestic demand for these minerals. However, India currently imports nearly 100% of its lithium, cobalt, and nickel requirements, with China controlling over 60% of global processing capacity for critical minerals. This concentration risk became starkly visible during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent geopolitical tensions. The National Critical Mineral Mission operates within a constitutional framework that empowers the Union government over mineral regulation. Under Entry 54 of the Union List (Seventh Schedule), the Centre has authority over "regulation of mines and mineral development to the extent declared by Parliament by law to be expedient in the public interest." The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, amended significantly in 2021 and 2023, provides the legislative backbone. The 2023 amendment introduced a new category of "critical and strategic minerals" and enabled auction of composite licenses for these minerals, removing them from the atomic minerals restriction that previously limited private participation. Key stakeholders form a complex ecosystem: the Ministry of Mines leads policy formulation, supported by Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL) - a joint venture of three PSUs (NALCO, HCL, MECL) for overseas mineral acquisition. State governments hold mineral concessions and land acquisition authority, while private sector players like Tata Chemicals, Reliance, and Adani Group are entering the processing space. Internationally, India has joined the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP) led by the US, and signed bilateral agreements with Australia, Argentina, Chile, and African nations for mineral exploration and off-take agreements. The establishment of four dedicated critical mineral processing parks across different states is a masterstroke in industrial policy. These parks will address the critical midstream gap - India has some mining potential (like the lithium finds in Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan), but lacks refining and processing capacity. By co-locating processing facilities with enabling infrastructure (power, water, logistics, waste management), these parks aim to create economies of scale and attract global technology partners. The geographic distribution across states also reflects cooperative federalism, ensuring regional development balance. Economically, this mission could save billions in import bills - India's critical mineral imports exceeded ₹34,000 crore in 2022-23 alone. It aligns with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and the PLI scheme's objective of creating domestic manufacturing champions. Politically, it reduces strategic vulnerability to supply disruptions and enhances India's bargaining power in global mineral governance forums. Socially, it promises high-skilled employment in mining, metallurgy, and advanced manufacturing sectors. The mission connects to broader themes of resource nationalism, supply chain resilience, and green industrial policy. Globally, the US Inflation Reduction Act, EU Critical Raw Materials Act, and China's export controls on gallium and germanium signal a new era of mineral geopolitics. India's response must balance domestic development with international cooperation. Future implications are profound: successful implementation could position India as a global processing hub, create export opportunities for refined minerals and downstream products, and enable technology transfer in battery manufacturing and rare earth separation. However, challenges remain - environmental clearances for mining in ecologically sensitive areas, technology gaps in complex hydrometallurgical processing, financing long-gestation projects, and ensuring fair benefit-sharing with local communities. The mission's success will depend on sustained policy consistency, effective Centre-state coordination, and the ability to attract patient capital for this strategic sector.